Permethrin Application

[NIGHTHAWK]

Looking for first hand experience. I’ve used it before for night hunting and tick prevention. Worked pretty good just following instructions.

Hunting Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa.
I’ll be hunting 24 Days.

When do you apply Permethrin:
1. How many days before the hunt?
2. How much do you apply?
3. Areas of application on clothes/boots?
4. How often do you apply or how long is it effective before reapplication.

Thanks.

 

[analog_peninsula]

The instructions usually say the treatment is good for a number of washes, which seems more or less plausible. I put it on my clothes about a week before I use them, but I don't think it's terribly time sensitive. I apply "thoroughly", meaning I try to put a reasonable amount on the entire garment, but I'll finish off a bottle if I'm near the end.

I usually apply with a spray bottle, so applying evenly is relatively easy. Don't over think it, and don't drench your clothes, but don't skimp either. I've personally found it to be very effective, or at least it appears to be effective, as I don't recall getting bitten through my clothes, or picking up ticks, chiggers, etc. I've never applied more than once before a hunt, but 24 days is a long time. I don't think the time is important, but the number of washes is probably relevant. Maybe do your clothes thoroughly, then take a small bottle for touching up the hems of your pants, and maybe the more exposed areas on your shirts?

 

[Blakefmd]

I lay out all clothes including underwear, socks and hat and spray it all front and back. It's effective immediately and lasts through several wash cycles.

 

[MS 9x56]

I have sprayed my turkey hunting camo and hunted the whole month of May and it was still killing ticks at months end, without touch up.

 

[deewayne2003]

1. Usually a couple weeks before the season or trip.
2. Just enough to make sure the clothing is damp.
3. Anything cloth and all over.
4. You MUST wash after application before wearing and it’s good for at least 4 washings.

 

[sgt_zim]

Looking for first hand experience. I’ve used it before for night hunting and tick prevention. Worked pretty good just following instructions.

Hunting Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa.
I’ll be hunting 24 Days.

When do you apply Permethrin:
1. How many days before the hunt?
2. How much do you apply?
3. Areas of application on clothes/boots?
4. How often do you apply or how long is it effective before reapplication.

Thanks.

All clothes, including (especially) socks. Spray your hat, too. You could walk through tall grass and they could fall onto your scalp. Ticks can't burrow through your clothes, the only way to your body is via neck holes, ends of sleeves, around your waist, and up your pants legs. Do your boots, too.

Permethrin is a good repellant, I've never found it terribly effective as an insecticide/miticide.

It'll survive a bunch of washings, staying effective as a repellant.

Wash all the clothes you're bringing about a week before. Once they're out of the drier and cool, lay them on the floor of your garage (or where ever) and give them a good spraying, hang them up to dry. Then pack them.

 

[375er]

Per the instructions on the back of the bottle a treatment is supposed last 42 days or 6 washings.

 

[Surgeon1]

Just home from the Salous in TZ for 3 weeks. Teatse flys were horrible! Fortunately Sprayed all my hunting clothes with solution of 1.5% made from 10% concentrate. a 1/2 gal (small) weed sprayer
works the best. Hang them in the garage on hangers and liberally spray all shirts and pants and one fleece jacket and allow to dry overnight then vacuum pack in compression freezer bags. One shirt and
one pants to a bag. Took 4 pants and shirts to hunt in and alternated 2 sets until they seemed to lose effectiveness then went to the last 2 sets. About 5 washings. The camp was using an electric washer not hand washing which likely took the effectiveness out quicker. I do not spray socks as in 100+ temp
several reports of dermatitis but do spray cloth ankle gaiters and hats.
For exposed skin the bug lotions with Permethrin work much better than the sprays. !00% Deet is worthless for Teatse flys IMHO. Make sure to do your hat, a jungle cotton hat is much better than a baseball type cap.
We tried Avon skin so soft with SBF 30 and IR3535 (Permethrin) and it was helpful. In TZ there is a product called Proven (looks same as sold on Amazon), it worked all day but I'm concerned that its 20% concentration!
If you think they won't bite thru clothes, think again. All of this is just helpful at best. So even though long sleeves and pants are miserable in the heat, shorts and short sleeves will prove to be painful.

 

[BeeMaa]

I buy the 36% concentration and dilute down to .5%. I add it to a 1-gallon pump sprayer and spray all the clothes, underwear, socks, boots, hats (etc) and gear (sleeping bags, gear bags…etc) I want protected. Everything that’s cloth gets sprayed.

Then it dries in the garage, not direct sunlight. It also gives some time for it to off-gas because my wife isn’t crazy about the smell.

I concentrate on the bottom of pants and seams that are easy for them to crawl up. Clothes are sprayed and dried on hangers so I can get full coverage.

I’ll do this two weeks before a trip and it can last up to 3 months depending on how the clothes are laundered and treated in that time.

Doing this has us tick free while others with us have been picking them off every evening. We still check, but so far have been clean.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I take a 5 gallon bucket and mix about 4 gallons. I completely soak shirts, pants and socks. Wring them out and hang them in my garage and let them dry. Other items, like jackets and hats, I use a spray bottle.

 

[jreidthompson]

I buy the 36% concentration and dilute down to .5%. I add it to a 1-gallon pump sprayer and spray all the clothes, underwear, socks, boots, hats (etc) and gear (sleeping bags, gear bags…etc) I want protected. Everything that’s cloth gets sprayed.

Then it dries in the garage, not direct sunlight. It also gives some time for it to off-gas because my wife isn’t crazy about the smell.

I concentrate on the bottom of pants and seams that are easy for them to crawl up. Clothes are sprayed and dried on hangers so I can get full coverage.

I’ll do this two weeks before a trip and it can last up to 3 months depending on how the clothes are laundered and treated in that time.

Doing this has us tick free while others with us have been picking them off every evening. We still check, but so far have been clean.

Martins makes a water based version that is essentially odorless compared to the oil/ volatile chemical versions

https://www.chewy.com/martins-permethrin-10-multi-purpose/dp/270031?utm_term=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=transactional&utm_campaign=bf9b312f-edd8-49e9-804c-4da4d9508f69&utm_audience=TXN_AUTOSHIP_CHILD_ORDER_CREATED_EMAIL_V1&mi_u=290615910&mi_ecmp=TXN_AUTOSHIP_CHILD_ORDER_CREATED_EMAIL_V1&utm_content=02750ec3-c1ec-4e8a-930c-890d9464964d

 

[Rem280]

I spray early and often. Stuff is cheap enough

 

[Russ16]

I treated all of mine with a large spray bottle bought off Amazon. Treated the day before packing which was two days before departure. Seemed to work.

 

[Tucketed]

Only pants, spray till damp, cuff on up. We have chiggers in Florida and if you don’t spray you will know it. I re-spray after 5-7 washes. It works. Sprayed for my Africa hunt last month, likely didn’t need it due to cold weather. It works

 

[Doug3006]

Looking for first hand experience. I’ve used it before for night hunting and tick prevention. Worked pretty good just following instructions.

Hunting Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa.
I’ll be hunting 24 Days.

When do you apply Permethrin:
1. How many days before the hunt?
2. How much do you apply?
3. Areas of application on clothes/boots?
4. How often do you apply or how long is it effective before reapplication.

Thanks.

I apply it 2 days before I leave to give it time to dry. I saturate the entire garment. Inside and out. ALL garments. I learned the hard way that it does not remain effective for 6 washings. Tick bit fever is no fun. If you’re hunting where ticks are present, I’d reapply every other washing. It really does work. When it was fresh, I’d see dozens of dead ticks on my pants.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Basically all of the above works and works well...biggest thing is you do it. I personally don't detect odor after a day or two. I'll admit with many trips, I may not know I am going 2-3 weeks before, and when I do, busy getting things with work, family, workouts and shooting where spraying is usually a more last minute affair. (by last minute, a day or three before I depart)

You NEED to allow time for the clothes to dry completely is the biggest thing. I typically try and spray clothing outside if weather allows, and then on the shady side of my house I have a fence I can hang things on while spraying, then flip sides and spray the other. I will initially leave outside in case of any drips, but within couple hours (earlier if windy) ill bring into the garage and hang on the misses squat rack/pull up bar (she loves it when I do this).

I used the same for an extended backpacking trip on an extended version of the John Muir Trail and some side travels, wore the same sun shirt, shorts and socks pretty much every day for over two weeks, and typically jumped into a mountain lake at least once a day, initially clothed but would work my way down from there, washing out what sweat, grit, salt, etc. before laying all clothes out into the sun to dry. So didn't wash with soap, but the items went through many, many lake washings and were still effective even on my next trip the following month in the Cascades on mosquitos.

If you will have three or four changes of clothes, so you are not having everything washed 12+ times, you should prove golden for your trip. I spray everything, and really soak key areas on your pants, socks, and waistlines where ticks love to try and nuzzle in.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Thinking of bringing a bottle when I leave for Zim again in a couple weeks. I've had some run ins with the fast moving attack scorpions the last few trips. Like at least once each time...and its always middle of the night when I might be a little slow moving...possibly even a little tipsy...when the damn things come chasing after me. Along witht he giant shower spiders...which honestly don't bother me, but wouldn't mind having a shower or two without one hanging out with me. Was curious what a light misting around the floor of my open cabin bungalow thingy might do. If it would make a difference at all.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I buy the 36% concentration and dilute down to .5%. I add it to a 1-gallon pump sprayer and spray all the clothes, underwear, socks, boots, hats (etc) and gear (sleeping bags, gear bags…etc) I want protected. Everything that’s cloth gets sprayed.

Then it dries in the garage, not direct sunlight. It also gives some time for it to off-gas because my wife isn’t crazy about the smell.

I concentrate on the bottom of pants and seams that are easy for them to crawl up. Clothes are sprayed and dried on hangers so I can get full coverage.

I’ll do this two weeks before a trip and it can last up to 3 months depending on how the clothes are laundered and treated in that time.

Doing this has us tick free while others with us have been picking them off every evening. We still check, but so far have been clean.

Any particular brand?

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I take a 5 gallon bucket and mix about 4 gallons. I completely soak shirts, pants and socks. Wring them out and hang them in my garage and let them dry. Other items, like jackets and hats, I use a spray bottle.

Thanks!

Brand for the concentrate?

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

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